Corylus plant named ‘Red Majestic’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Corylus  plant named ‘Red Majestic’, characterized by its compact and outwardly spreading to semi-weeping plant habit; twisting stems; and rich dark burgundy-colored developing leaves and rich dark burgundy-colored fully expanded leaves during the spring and summer.

Botanical classification/cultivar designation: Corylus avellana cultivarRed Majestic.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present Invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Corylusplant, botanically known as Corylus avellana, and hereinafter referredto by the name ‘Red Majestic’.

The new Corylus originated from a chance cross-pollination in 1997 oftwo unidentified selections of Corylus avellena, not patented. Thecultivar Red Majestic was discovered and selected by the Inventor as asingle plant within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination in acontrolled environment in Bad Zwischenahn, Germany.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar by softwood cuttings at BadZwischenahn, Germany since 1997, has shown that the unique features ofthis new Corylus are stable and reproduced true to type in successivegenerations of asexual reproduction.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘Red Majestic’. These characteristicsin combination distinguish ‘Red Majestic’ as a new and distinctcultivar:

-   -   1. Compact and outwardly spreading to semi-weeping plant habit.    -   2. Twisting stems.    -   3. Rich dark burgundy-colored developing leaves and rich dark        burgundy-colored fully expanded leaves during the spring and        summer.

In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Grand Haven, Mich., plants ofthe new Corylus differed primarily from plants of the Corylus avellenacultivar Contorta, not patented, and other cultivars and selections ofCorylus avellena known to the Inventor primarily in leaf coloration andplant size as plants of the cultivar Contorta and other cultivars andselections of Corylus avellena had green-colored leaves and were largerthan plants of the new Corylus.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearanceof the new cultivar, showing the colors as true as it is reasonablypossible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type.

The photograph at the top of the sheet comprises a side perspective viewof a typical plant of ‘Red Majestic’.

The photograph at the bottom of the sheet is a close-up view of typicalleaves of ‘Red Majestic’.

Foliage colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the colorvalues cited in the detailed botanical description which accuratelydescribe the colors of the new Corylus.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The cultivar Red Majestic has not been observed under all possibleenvironmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat withvariations in environment such as temperature and light intensity,without, however, any variance in genotype. The aforementionedphotograph and following observations and measurements describe plantsgrown in Grand Haven, Mich., under commercial practice in an outdoornursery during the fall and spring. Plants used for the photographs anddescription were about four years old. In the following description,color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society ColourChart, 1995 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionarysignificance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Corylus avellana cultivar Red Majestic.-   Parentage:    -   -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Unidentified Corylus avellana            selection, not patented.        -   Female, or seed, parent.—Unidentified Corylus avellana            selection, not patented.-   Propagation:    -   -   Type cutting.—Softwood cuttings.        -   Time to initiate roots.—About 30 days at 20° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted young plant.—About one year at 25°            C.        -   Root description.—Fine to thick; freely branching; creamy            white in color.-   Plant description:    -   -   General appearance.—Perennial shrub. Compact and outwardly            spreading to semi-weeping plant habit; roughly rounded in            shape.        -   Growth and branching habit.—Freely branching; about 15            lateral branches develop per plant. Pinching, that is,            removal of the terminal apices, enhances branching with            lateral branches potentially forming at every node. Strong            and moderately vigorous growth habit. Stems twisting or            “zig-zagged”.        -   Plant height.—About 1 meter.        -   Plant diameter or spread.—About 1 meter.        -   Lateral branch description.—Length: About 6 cm. Diameter:            About 5 mm. Internode length: About 1.3 cm. Texture: Smooth,            glabrous. Strength: Strong. Color, immature: 178A. Color,            mature: 197A.        -   Foliage description.—Arrangement: Alternate, simple. Length:            About 12 cm. Width: About 10 cm. Shape: Oblong to ovate.            Apex: Obtuse to acute. Base: Auriculate to cordate. Margin:            Serrate. Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Slightly            pubescent. Venation pattern: Pinnate. Color: Developing            foliage, upper and lower surfaces: 187A. Fully expanded            foliage, upper surface: Spring and summer, 183B; late summer            and fall, 139A. Fully expanded foliage, lower surface:            Spring and summer, 178A; late summer and fall, 137A.            Venation, upper surface: Spring and summer, 183B; late            summer and fall, 139A. Venation, lower surface: Spring and            summer, 178A; late summer and fall, 138B. Petiole: Length:            About 1 cm. Diameter: About 2.5 mm. Texture, upper and lower            surfaces: Pubescent. Color, upper surface: Spring and            summer, 183B; late summer and fall, 139A. Color, lower            surface: Spring and summer, 178A; late summer and fall,            138B.-   Flower description: Flower development has not been observed on    plants of the new Corylus.-   Disease/pest resistance: Plants of the new Corylus have not been    observed to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to Corylus.-   Temperature tolerance: Plants of the new Corylus have been observed    to tolerate temperatures from −28 to 34° C.

1. A new and distinct cultivar of Corylus plant named ‘Red Majestic’, asillustrated and described.